Nutrition and Health Sciences -- Faculty PublicationsCopyright (c) 2015 University of Nebraska - Lincoln All rights reserved.http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub
Recent documents in Nutrition and Health Sciences -- Faculty Publicationsen-usTue, 23 Jun 2015 11:40:44 PDT3600Mechanomyographic amplitude and frequency responses during
dynamic muscle actions: a comprehensive reviewhttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/36
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/36Mon, 04 May 2015 14:20:28 PDT
The purpose of this review is to examine the literature that has investigated mechanomyographic (MMG) amplitude and frequency responses during dynamic muscle actions. To date, the majority of MMG research has focused on isometric muscle actions. Recent studies, however, have examined the MMG time and/or frequency domain responses during various types of dynamic activities, including dynamic constant external resistance (DCER) and isokinetic muscle actions, as well as cycle ergometry. Despite the potential influences of factors such as changes in muscle length and the thickness of the tissue between the muscle and the MMG sensor, there is convincing evidence that during dynamic muscle actions, the MMG signal provides valid information regarding muscle function. This argument is supported by consistencies in the MMG literature, such as the close relationship between MMG amplitude and power output and a linear increase in MMG amplitude with concentric torque production. There are still many issues, however, that have yet to be resolved, and the literature base for MMG during both dynamic and isometric muscle actions is far from complete. Thus, it is important to investigate the unique applications of MMG amplitude and frequency responses with different experimental designs/methodologies to continually reassess the uses/limitations of MMG.
]]>
Travis W. Beck et al.Sport-specific reaction time after dehydration
varies between sexeshttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/35
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/35Mon, 04 May 2015 14:20:25 PDTBackground Dehydration has been shown to decrease sports performance. However, the exact cause of the decreased performance due to dehydration is still unclear. PURPOSE: To compare sport-specific reaction time values between men and women and at different quartiles after a dehydrating protocol to approximately 2% body mass loss.

Methods Ten women and eleven men between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five volunteered to participate in the study (27 +/- 4yr, 78.7 +/- 14.8 kg, 174.0 +/- 7.5 cm). Subjects reported to the lab in a fasted and normally hydrated state and completed a two-minute, multi-directional sportspecific reaction time test. Subjects then ran on a treadmill at 80% estimated max HR for 30 minutes, followed by multiple 15 minute sessions in a dry sauna at approximately 150 degrees F. After reaching a 2% (+/- 0.4%) reduction in dry body weight subjects completed the same procedures as pre-dehydration. Reaction times were separated into quartiles (each quartile being a 30-second interval of the two minutes) and averaged to examine the data within each test. Consent to publish the results was obtained from all participants.

]]>
Patricia A. Hageman et al.Development and validation of a social cognitive
theory-based survey for elementary nutrition
education programhttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/33
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/33Mon, 04 May 2015 14:20:21 PDTBackground: The Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) is a widely used model for developing elementary nutrition education programs; however, few instruments are available to assess the impact of such programs on the main constructs of the SCT. The purposes of this study were: 1) to develop and validate a SCT-based survey instrument that focuses on knowledge, behavior, and self-efficacy for fifth grade students; 2) to assess the relationships between knowledge, behavior, and self-efficacy; and 3) to assess knowledge, behavior, and self-efficacy for healthy eating among the fifth grade students.

Methods: A 40-item instrument was developed and validated using content validity and tested among 98 fifth grade students for internal consistency reliability. Relationships between knowledge, behavior, and self-efficacy were assessed using Pearson Correlation Coefficients. Differences in behavior and knowledge scores between children with high and low self-efficacy were examined using t-test.

Results: Cronbach’s alphas for self-efficacy (0.70) and behavior (0.71) subscales of the survey were acceptable, although lower for knowledge (0.56). Summary scores for self-efficacy and behaviors were positively correlated (r = 0.40, P = 0.0001); however, summary knowledge scores were not associated with self-efficacy (r = 0.02, P = 0.88) or behavior scores (r = 0.14, P = 0.23). Participants with high self-efficacy also had significantly higher scores on consuming fruits (P = 0.0009) and dairy products (P = 0.009), eating breakfast (P = 0.008), helping plan family meals (P = 0.0006) and total behaviors for healthy-eating (P = 0.001) compared to those with low self-efficacy. In addition, approximately two thirds of the fifth grade students reported that they did not eat any fruits or vegetables or ate them only once on a typical day.

Conclusions: The developed instrument is a reliable and useful tool to assess SCT-based elementary nutrition education programs, particularly for self-efficacy and behavior. Our results also indicated that strategic interventions are necessary to improve dietary behaviors regarding fruit and vegetable consumptions among elementary school students.

]]>
Elisha Hall et al.The Role of Histone H4 Biotinylation in the Structure of
Nucleosomeshttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/32
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/32Mon, 04 May 2015 14:20:19 PDTBackground: Post-translational modifications of histones play important roles in regulating nucleosome structure and gene transcription. It has been shown that biotinylation of histone H4 at lysine-12 in histone H4 (K12Bio-H4) is associated with repression of a number of genes. We hypothesized that biotinylation modifies the physical structure of nucleosomes, and that biotin-induced conformational changes contribute to gene silencing associated with histone biotinylation.

Methodology/Principal Findings: To test this hypothesis we used atomic force microscopy to directly analyze structures of nucleosomes formed with biotin-modified and non-modified H4. The analysis of the AFM images revealed a 13% increase in the length of DNA wrapped around the histone core in nucleosomes with biotinylated H4. This statistically significant (p,0.001) difference between native and biotinylated nucleosomes corresponds to adding approximately 20 bp to the classical 147 bp length of nucleosomal DNA.

Conclusions/Significance: The increase in nucleosomal DNA length is predicted to stabilize the association of DNA with histones and therefore to prevent nucleosomes from unwrapping. This provides a mechanistic explanation for the gene silencing associated with K12Bio-H4. The proposed single-molecule AFM approach will be instrumental for studying the effects of various epigenetic modifications of nucleosomes, in addition to biotinylation.

]]>
Nina A. Filenko et al.Processing of oats and the impact of processing operations on nutrition and
health benefitshttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/31
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/31Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:00:08 PDT
Oats are a uniquely nutritious food as they contain an excellent lipid profile and high amounts of soluble fibre. However, an oat kernel is largely non-digestible and thus must be utilised in milled form to reap its nutritional benefits. Milling is made up of numerous steps, the most important being dehulling to expose the digestible groat, heat processing to inactivate enzymes that cause rancidity, and cutting, rolling or grinding to convert the groat into a product that can be used directly in oatmeal or can be used as a food ingredient in products such as bread, ready-to-eat breakfast cereals and snack bars. Oats can also be processed into oat bran and fibre to obtain high-fibrecontaining fractions that can be used in a variety of food products.
]]>
Eric A. Decker et al.Identification and assessment of markers of biotin status in healthy adultshttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/30
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/30Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:00:07 PDT
Human biotin requirements are unknown and the identification of reliable markers of biotin status is necessary to fill this knowledge gap. Here, we used an outpatient feeding protocol to create states of biotin deficiency, sufficiency and supplementation in sixteen healthy men and women. A total of twenty possible markers of biotin status were assessed, including the abundance of biotinylated carboxylases in lymphocytes, the expression of genes from biotin metabolism and the urinary excretion of biotin and organic acids. Only the abundance of biotinylated 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (holo-MCC) and propionyl-CoA carboxylase (holo-PCC) allowed for distinguishing biotin-deficient and biotin-sufficient individuals. The urinary excretion of biotin reliably identified biotin-supplemented subjects, but did not distinguish between biotin-depleted and biotin-sufficient individuals. The urinary excretion of 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid detected some biotin-deficient subjects, but produced a meaningful number of false-negative results and did not distinguish between biotinsufficient and biotin-supplemented individuals. None of the other organic acids that were tested were useful markers of biotin status. Likewise, the abundance of mRNA coding for biotin transporters, holocarboxylase synthetase and biotin-dependent carboxylases in lymphocytes were not different among the treatment groups. Generally, datasets were characterised by variations that exceeded those seen in studies in cell cultures.We conclude that holo-MCC and holo-PCC are themost reliable, single markers of biotin status tested in the present study.
]]>
Wei Kay Eng et al.Impact of whole grains on the gut microbiota: the next frontier for oats?http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/29
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/29Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:00:05 PDT
The gut microbiota plays important roles in proper gut function and can contribute to or help prevent disease. Whole grains, including oats, constitute important sources of nutrients for the gut microbiota and contribute to a healthy gut microbiome. In particular, whole grains provide NSP and resistant starch, unsaturated TAG and complex lipids, and phenolics. The composition of these constituents is unique in oats compared with other whole grains. Therefore, oats may contribute distinctive effects on gut health relative to other grains. Studies designed to determine these effects may uncover new human-health benefits of oat consumption.
]]>
Devin J. RoseNutrition, Histone Epigenetic Marks, and Diseasehttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/28
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/28Mon, 08 Sep 2014 09:43:11 PDT
The dietary intake of essential nutrients and bioactive food compounds is a process that occurs on a daily basis for the entire life span. Therefore, your diet has a great potential to cause changes in the epigenome. Known histone modifications include acetylation, methylation, biotinylation, poly(ADP-ribosylation), ubiquitination, and sumoylation. Some of these modifications depend directly on dietary nutrients. For other modifications, bioactive dietary compounds may alter the activities of enzymes that establish or remove histone marks, thereby altering the epigenome. This chapter provides an overview of diet-dependent epigenomic marks in histones and their links with human health.
]]>
Janos Zempleni et al.An amino acid-electrolyte beverage may increase cellular rehydration relative to carbohydrate-electrolyte and flavored
water beverageshttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/27
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/27Wed, 02 Jul 2014 11:01:48 PDT
Background: In cases of dehydration exceeding a 2% loss of body weight, athletic performance can be significantly compromised. Carbohydrate and/or electrolyte containing beverages have been effective for rehydration and recovery of performance, yet amino acid containing beverages remain unexamined. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the rehydration capabilities of an electrolyte-carbohydrate (EC), electrolyte-branched chain amino acid (EA), and flavored water (FW) beverages. Methods: Twenty men (n = 10; 26.7 ± 4.8 years; 174.3 ± 6.4 cm; 74.2 ± 10.9 kg) and women (n = 10; 27.1 ± 4.7 years; 175.3 ± 7.9 cm; 71.0 ± 6.5 kg) participated in this crossover study. For each trial, subjects were dehydrated, provided one of three random beverages, and monitored for the following three hours. Measurements were collected prior to and immediately after dehydration and 4 hours after dehydration (3 hours after rehydration) (AE = −2.5 ± 0.55%; CE = −2.2 ± 0.43%; FW = −2.5 ± 0.62%). Measurements collected at each time point were urine volume, urine specific gravity, drink volume, and fluid retention. Results: No significant differences (p > 0.05) existed between beverages for urine volume, drink volume, or fluid retention for any time-point. Treatment x time interactions existed for urine specific gravity (USG) (p < 0.05). Post hoc analysis revealed differences occurred between the FW and EA beverages (p = 0.003) and between the EC and EA beverages (p = 0.007) at 4 hours after rehydration. Wherein, EA USG returned to baseline at 4 hours post-dehydration (mean difference from pre to 4 hours post-dehydration = -0.0002; p > 0.05) while both EC (-0.0067) and FW (-0.0051) continued to produce dilute urine and failed to return to baseline at the same time-point (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Because no differences existed for fluid retention, urine or drink volume at any time point, yet USG returned to baseline during the EA trial, an EA supplement may enhance cellular rehydration rate compared to an EC or FW beverage in healthy men and women after acute dehydration of around 2% body mass loss.
]]>
Chin-Yin Tai et al.Effectiveness of Nutrition Counseling in Young Adult Maleshttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/26
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/26Thu, 17 Apr 2014 06:37:44 PDT
The purpose of this project was to determine if the addition of a laboratory measurement, i.e., measurement of serum cholesterol, would increase the effectiveness of nutrition counseling in young men. Subjects were a random sample of 45 healthy male students from a Midwestern university, between the ages of 20 and 25 who were consuming >30% of kcal from fat. Men were randomly assigned to one of four groups; nutrition counseling and measurement of serum cholesterol (NC + SC), nutrition counseling only (NC), measurement of serum cholesterol only (SC), or control (C). At weeks 1 and 6, participants completed a 24-hour recall, a 2-day food record, and a food frequency questionnaire. Analysis of variance and least squares means were used to compare change in dietary intake (percent calories from fat) from pre- to post-assessment. Fat intake decreased by 3.2% kcal from fat in the NC + SC group (P < 0.02), and by 2.7% kcal from fat in the NC group (P < 0.06). There were no significant changes in the SC or C groups. These results suggest that measurement of serum cholesterol may enhance the effectiveness of nutrition counseling in young adult males somewhat, however, the primary impact on reducing fat intake is from the nutrition counseling alone.
]]>
D. R. Williams et al.Nutrition education intervention increases total ω-3 fatty acid
intakes in heart patients living in the Midwesthttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/25
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/25Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:10:45 PDT
The objective of this research was to assess the impact of a nutrition education intervention on intake of total ω-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) in heart patients. The intervention design was a randomized trial comparing 2 interventions: decisional balance (DB) and no decisional balance (NDB). The outcome measures were total dietary n-3 FA intake and food sources. Intakes were measured using an n-3 FA food frequency questionnaire at baseline, at 1 month (midpoint), and at 2 months (end). Participants were a convenience sample of 36 adults (15 males, 21 females) recruited from a local heart clinic. Data were processed using the SPSS computer software (version 10.0, SPSS, Chicago, Ill). Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance with post hoc tests (least significant difference) were used to assess differences in total dietary n-3 FA intake over time and changes in intake from food groups. Total ω-3 FA intakes for both interventions increased from baseline to midpoint (P < .001) and from baseline to end (P < .014). Although there was no significant difference between groups, the DB intervention increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds, fish/seafood, dairy, eggs, and legumes at 1 month and maintained the increases in vegetables, eggs, and legumes at 2 months (P < .05). The NDB intervention increased consumption of fruits, nuts/seeds, dairy, vegetables, fish/seafood, and eggs at 1 month (P < .05), and maintained the increases in dairy, fish/seafood, and eggs at 2 months. The intervention could be used by health care providers and nutrition educators who work with populations that will benefit from consuming more total dietary n-3 FA.
]]>
Kimberly B. Heidal et al.Survey of omega-3 fatty acid intakes
and omega-3 food selections in cardiac
patients living in a section of the
midwestern United Stateshttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/24
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/24Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:06:01 PDT
The objectives of this research were to survey the omega-3 fatty acid intakes and omega-3 food selections of 36 cardiac patients living in the midwestern United States. An omega-3 food frequency was developed that included 149 food items. Cardiac patients from a local heart clinic participated (n = 36). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Program for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10.0. Dietary omega-3 fatty acid intakes ranged from 0.18 – 10.15 g/day. Fish and seafood were the primary food sources of omega-3 fatty acids and were consumed twice a week. Major plant food sources of omega-3 fatty acids that were consumed include walnuts, flaxseed, canola oil, and soybeans. This study reports omega-3 food selection and food preferences in cardiac patients living in a section of the midwestern United States.
]]>
Kimberly Heidal et al.Serum lipids of physically active adults
consuming omega-3 fatty acid–enriched
eggs or conventional eggshttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/23
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/23Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:01:25 PDT
This study was designed to compare the effects of the consumption of one omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)–enriched egg or one conventional egg on serum lipids in physically active adults. A total of 12 adults (mean age 33 ± 7 years, mean body mass index [BMI] 24 ± 3) were recruited, and dietary treatments were randomly assigned. After a 2-week lead-in period (baseline), participants received each 4-week treatment in a crossover arrangement with a 4-week washout period between treatments. Participants completed a 3-day food record at baseline and during each treatment period. Food records were analyzed for carbohydrates, protein, total fat, saturated fat, monounsaturated fatty acids, PUFA, n-3 PUFA, and cholesterol using the Food Processor Nutrition and Fitness (ESHA) software. Blood samples were collected at the end of each treatment period and analyzed for total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and n-3 PUFA. Dietary intake of α-linolenic acid (1.196 ± 0.116 g · day−1) and docosahexaenoic acid (0.087 ± 0.013 g · day−1) and serum α-linolenic acid (10.52 ± 0.581 ng · mL−1) were higher during the n-3 PUFA–enriched egg treatment than during the conventional egg treatment (P< 0.05). Serum triglycerides were higher (P< 0.05) with n-3 PUFA–enriched eggs (86.54 ± 5.84 mg · dL−1) than with conventional eggs (67.56 ± 5.48 mg · dL−1). Daily consumption of one n-3 PUFA–enriched egg resulted in higher serum α-linolenic acid and triglycerides in physically active adults than did daily consumption of one conventional egg.
]]>
Carrie A. Sindelar et al.The effects of anatabine on non-invasive
indicators of muscle damage: a randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover studyhttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/22
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/22Thu, 10 Apr 2014 10:48:28 PDTBackground: Anatabine (ANA), a minor tobacco alkaloid found in the Solanaceae family of plants, may exhibit anti-inflammatory activity, which may be useful to aid in recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine the effects of ANA supplementation on the recovery of isometric strength and selected non-invasive indicators of muscle damage.

Methods: A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover design was used to study eighteen men (mean ± SD age = 22.2 ± 3.1 yrs; body mass = 80.3 ± 15.7 kg) who participated in two randomly-ordered conditions separated by a washout period. The ANA condition consisted of consuming 6–12 mg anatabine per day for 10 days, while testing took place during days 7–10. The placebo (PLA) condition was identical except that the PLA supplement contained no ANA. Maximal voluntary isometric peak torque (PT) of the forearm flexors, arm circumference, hanging joint angle, and subjective pain ratings were measured before (PRE), immediately after (POST), and 24, 48, and 72 h after six sets of 10 maximal, eccentric isokinetic forearm flexion muscle actions. Resting heart rate and blood pressure were measured at PRE and 72 h in each condition.

Results: For PT, hanging joint angle, arm circumference, and subjective pain ratings, there were no condition x time (p > 0.05) interactions, there were no main effects for condition (p > 0.05), but there were main effects for time (p < 0.001). There were no condition x time (p > 0.05) interactions and no main effects for condition (p > 0.05) or time (p > 0.05) for blood pressure or resting heart rate.

Conclusions: ANA supplementation had no effect on the recovery of muscle strength, hanging joint angle, arm swelling, or subjective pain ratings after a bout of maximal eccentric exercise in the forearm flexors. Therefore, ANA may not be beneficial for those seeking to improve recovery from heavy eccentric exercise. Future studies should examine the effects of ANA on the pro-inflammatory cytokine responses to exercise-induced muscle damage and the chronic low-grade inflammation observed in obese and elderly individuals.

]]>
Nathaniel DM Jenkins et al.Food availability of glucose and fat, but not
fructose, increased in the US between 1970 and
2009: analysis of the USDA food availability data
systemhttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/21
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/21Thu, 10 Apr 2014 10:36:00 PDTBackground: Obesity rates in the United States have risen consistently over the last four decades, increasing from about 13% of the population in 1970 to more than 34% in 2009. Dietary fructose has been blamed as a possible contributor to the obesity increase, although the consumption pattern of fructose and other key nutrients during this 40 year period remains a topic of debate. Therefore, we analyzed the USDA Loss-Adjusted Food Availability Database in combination with the USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (Release 24) to determine whether fructose consumption in the US has increased sufficiently to be a casual factor in the rise in obesity prevalence.

Methods: Per capita loss-adjusted food availability data for 132 individual food items were compiled and analyzed. Nutrient profiles for each of these foods were used to determine the availability of energy as well as macronutrients and monosaccharides during the years 1970-2009. The percent change in energy from food groups and individual nutrients was determined by using the year 1970 as the baseline and area-under-the-curve analysis of food trends.

Results: Our findings indicate that during this 40 year period the percent change in total energy availability increased 10.7%, but that the net change in total fructose availability was 0%. Energy available from total glucose (from all digestible food sources) increased 13.0%. Furthermore, glucose availability was more than 3-times greater than fructose. Energy available from protein, carbohydrate and fat increased 4.7%, 9.8% and 14.6%, respectively.

Conclusions: These data suggest that total fructose availability in the US did not increase between 1970 and 2009 and, thus, was unlikely to have been a unique causal factor in the increased obesity prevalence. We conclude that increased total energy intake, due to increased availability of foods providing glucose (primarily as starch in grains) and fat, to be a significant contributor to increased obesity in the US.

Design — This study used a comparative descriptive design. A retrospective chart review was conducted on all nutrition documentation in closed patient records. Documentation of two groups of nutrition practitioners (institution A = practitioners who received initial orientation and routine reinforcement in use of nutrition care process standards; institution B = practitioners who received orientation in use of a further assessment and medical nutrition therapy intervention procedure) was compared for evidence of a six-step nutrition care process.

Sample/Setting — The sample consisted of randomly selected patient records (N = 60). A total of 15 oncology and 15 chronic renal failure patient records from each of two Midwestern tertiary- care hospitals were reviewed.

Main Outcome Measures — Outcome measures were number of nutrition care process steps documented, appropriate relationships among documented steps in the nutrition care process, and the number of complete, incomplete, and interrupted chains.

Statistical Analyses — Two-sample t tests and χ2 analyses were used.

Results — Nutrition practitioners at institution A documented approximately three times as many nutrition care process steps per patient per chain that demonstrated appropriate relationships as did nutrition practitioners at institution B (2.69 ± 1.15 and 0.80 ± 0.62, respectively [mean ± standard deviation]) (P < .001). There were no outcome judgments related to goals documented in chains at either institution and because of this there were no completed nutrition care process chains at either institution.

Conclusions — Nutrition practitioners with orientation to nutrition care process standards documented more related nutrition care process steps than practitioners without this orientation. Providing nutrition practitioners with ongoing education and clinical experiences in use and documentation of the nutrition care process and a standardized language may be indicated to increase the number of completed nutrition care process chains and improve documentation of nutrition care and patient outcomes.

]]>
Nancy Hakel-Smith et al.In-home Prenatal Nutrition Intervention
Increased Dietary Iron Intakes and
Reduced Low Birthweight in
Low-Income African-American
Womenhttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/18
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/18Wed, 16 May 2012 15:10:44 PDT
Low birthweight (LBW), defined as an infant weighing less than 2,500 grams (1), is a major determinant of infant mortality and contributes to infant and childhood morbidity and increased healthcare costs (2-4). LBW occurs due to preterm delivery (length of gestation less than 37 weeks), growth retardation, or both (2). In the United States, higher rates of LBW occur in urban areas with high concentrations of low-income ethnic minorities (5). Results of the 1997 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance indicate that the rate of LBW in the United States was 13% for African-American infants, and 8% for whites (6). Healthy People 2010 (7) outlines an overarching goal to eliminate health disparities among different segments of the population, including differences that occur by race or ethnicity

Reviews of the medical nutrition therapy literature indicate a continuing need to document the specific contribution of the registered dietitian to health outcomes attained (8). In the specific area of prenatal nutrition interventions, Boyd and Windsor (9) concluded there is a need for high-quality prenatal nutrition education programs, including descriptions of program process and content. Published reports of nutrition interventions suggest that programs are more likely to be successful if they are adapted to the particular minority target culture (10) and if they are individualized to the specific client’s needs (11). A continuing need exists for well-documented and effective prenatal nutrition interventions designed to reduce the incidence of LBW among minority populations. The objective of this project was to evaluate an in-home prenatal nutrition intervention designed to prevent LBW among low-income African-American women.

]]>
Chiquita Briley et al.Constructive Developmental Theory:
An Alternative Approach to Leadershiphttp://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/17
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nutritionfacpub/17Fri, 11 May 2012 12:02:39 PDT
As early as 1954, the critical value of leadership in dietetics was described by Rourke, who wrote, “When the day comes that your executive abilities equal your scientific knowledge, your profession (dietetics) will be secure. Until that day, you will be faced with a constant and unwelcome challenge” (1). Career and leadership skills development have been identified as an area for further attention by American Dietetic Association (ADA) practitioners and student members (2). Creation of the ADA Leadership Institute in 2003 represented an awareness of the need to invest in developing dietetic leaders (3). Proficient leaders are critical in keeping our profession on the cutting edge by identifying areas of need for change and providing leadership for change. Proficient leaders can also serve as role models for members.

Leadership has been identified as essential for success in the 21st century and according to Bennis, “our quality of life amidst the volatility, turbulence and ambiguity of our present day societal context, depends on the quality of our leaders” (4). Leadership research theory has been based on objective measures such as traits, attitudes and performance, intellect, personality, relationships, competencies, and values. Dietetic leadership studies are limited and describe these objective characteristics and leadership styles (5-9). In their review of traditional leadership theory, Gregoire and Arendt (10) suggested that more information is needed about how dietitians develop as leaders. The present article describes one theory of leadership development—constructive developmental theory. Registered dietitians at advanced leadership stages can be identified and factors enabling their development can be studied. This theory provides a subjective approach for studying dietetic leadership and gives insight for leadership development programs.